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Prime VIP
Despite a large number of social and religious organisations pretending to fight against the gender bias, celebrating first lohri of daughters, Punjabis love for male child is still strong in both rural and urban areas of the state.
The tendency, besides other elements of social behaviour is supported by first few questions, which are asked from nurses coming out of labour rooms after the delivery.
Health of the mother and weight of the child are least important while the gender takes the priority. Elite families are no exception to the tendency.
Investigations by The Tribune revealed that family members of expectant mothers were more curious to know about the child’s sex than their well-being.
While nurses bringing news of the birth of a male child are awarded generously, those informing about arrival of a girl child are levelled as ‘wretched’.
A nurse was shocked to know the concern of family members of a mother of two daughters whose condition had worsened after delivering the third girl.
“Maan nun chhad eh dass munda hoyea ke fer pathar jamm piya,” was a reaction of a mother-in-law when she was informed that a unit of blood would be required to revive her blood pressure.
Dr Garima Hind, a gynecologist, who has recently shifted here from Manipal, wondered that despite tall claims about sensitization against gender bias people were stuck up in old mindset.
“While in Manipal people are more concerned about mother’s health and that of the baby, here in Punjab, first question people ask is about sex of the child,” she regretted. Only a few bothers to enquire if the child had cried immediately after the birth, which is the most important event in the new born child’s life.
The tendency, besides other elements of social behaviour is supported by first few questions, which are asked from nurses coming out of labour rooms after the delivery.
Health of the mother and weight of the child are least important while the gender takes the priority. Elite families are no exception to the tendency.
Investigations by The Tribune revealed that family members of expectant mothers were more curious to know about the child’s sex than their well-being.
While nurses bringing news of the birth of a male child are awarded generously, those informing about arrival of a girl child are levelled as ‘wretched’.
A nurse was shocked to know the concern of family members of a mother of two daughters whose condition had worsened after delivering the third girl.
“Maan nun chhad eh dass munda hoyea ke fer pathar jamm piya,” was a reaction of a mother-in-law when she was informed that a unit of blood would be required to revive her blood pressure.
Dr Garima Hind, a gynecologist, who has recently shifted here from Manipal, wondered that despite tall claims about sensitization against gender bias people were stuck up in old mindset.
“While in Manipal people are more concerned about mother’s health and that of the baby, here in Punjab, first question people ask is about sex of the child,” she regretted. Only a few bothers to enquire if the child had cried immediately after the birth, which is the most important event in the new born child’s life.